Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released trout and jacks in Sarasota Bay and false albacore (little tunny) and Spanish mackerel in the coastal gulf off Sarasota during the past week.
Bill Rhodes, from Hernando Beach, FL, fished the coastal gulf off Sarasota with me on Monday, 9/24. Large schools of Spanish mackerel fed in glass minnow schools while smaller schools of false albacore busted baits around the edges of mackerel schools. He caught and released a couple of albies to about 8-pounds and several Spanish mackerel on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly.
John Stenger and his son, Jeff, from KY, fished shallow and deep grass flats along the east side of Sarasota Bay and near Buttonwood Harbor with me on Tuesday, 9/25. They caught and released trout and jacks on DOA Deadly Combos, CAL jigs with a variety of tails and top water plugs.
It was a "go to Mexico" kind of day and the action was good in the coastal gulf on Wednesday, 9/26. In addition to numerous schools of false albacore and mackerel, a couple of big kings were spotted skyrocketing through bait. Small schools of albies were moving fast and not staying up long, but several fish to about 8-pounds were caught and released on flies.
Fishing for false albacore, Spanish mackerel and more in the coastal gulf will continue to get better as the water cools and baitfish schools become more concentrated. Catch and release snook fishing before dawn in Sarasota Bay should also be good next week. This time of year we sometimes also catch reds and trout in the lights along with snook. Tarpon of all sizes should be another good option in upper Charlotte Harbor depending on conditions.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com
